14 Down - 32 to go!

Weight: 253.8


Today, I awoke to a sicky-flu-man, so my exercise today was another run, about 1.5 miles. I then made a figurative run to Hannaford to pick up DayQuil, Theraflu, and a thermometer. 


Time for breakfast - looks like I may be facing Judy alone on Thursday...yikes.

Until Tomorrow,

J

My Living Will

After I get out of spin class with Judy, walking down the four flights of stairs to get to the car is almost a near-death experience. My legs feel like Jell-O, as I wobble down each step clinging to the banister for life. After doing this for a while now, I've decided I should start some sort of living will. This way, if I crack my head open after spin class one day, everyone knows who should get what and my things can go to a loving home.




First, my hamster Gus Gus will go to Beba. I'd let Charles have him, but I'm pretty sure the cage top would "accidentally" get left open, and Sadie would have a nutritious snack.


My DVDs of Flight of the Conchords, seasons 1 &2 can also go to Beba: you'll appreciate the humor, the accents, and the music.


Heck: Beba, you get everything. You also get the power to determine who gets the junk of mine you don't want. Cheers.


Until Tomorrow,

J

The Old Guy: part 2

Today's class with The Old Guy was pretty awesome. Not only has he added to his music library (he played U2, Tom Petty, the Travelling Wilbury's, the Counting Crows, and that 'big black horse and a cherry tree' chick) but he is slowly reminding me of Papa, my dad's dad.

When Charles and I get there, we're usually the first to arrive, as the hens come trailing in during the warm-up. The Old Guy is standing by the door with a list of everyone who has signed up for his class. I assume that he's not there to figure out who is coming or not but that he's trying to figure out what time he is allowed to decide that no one is coming to class and he gets to go back to bed.


He is a man of little words: he greets the class, says enough to tell us what to expect next and then is done. He is the character foil of Sparkles.


He also uses a handkerchief and blows his nose during class.




All in all, it's strangely endearing.


Today's class did leave me SO exhausted that I was feeling queasy towards the end of it. I think that's a sign that I need more sleep.

Until Tomorrow,


J

Walk the Walk

Today, Charles and I walked 6 miles round trip to meet up with friends Sara and Sarah for brunch at a local coffee shop/bistro I used to be a barista at.


I had an omelet with avocado, tomato, spinach, and goat cheese and Charles had a Monte Cristo. For those of you who live under a low-cholesterol rock, a Monte Cristo is egg, cheese, ham, and turkey in a french toast-bread sandwich covered in maple syrup and powdered sugar. 



Charles, you're welcome, by the way; it was my suggestion to put that item on the menu 4 years ago :)


This post will end now, because it's 9:41. I have spin class at 6 am tomorrow, and I'm exhausted.

Until Tomorrow,

J

Getting Up

Today, I would like to discuss my major dilemma when it comes to running: getting myself psyched up to actually do it.

Getting ready for a run consists of quite a few phases. Depending on the energy level, the duration of each phase may vary significantly, but the order never changes.

Phase 1: Thinking about running. 
                  Unfortunately, I've been in situations where this stage lasts an entire day. Usually, these days are extreme lazy days, ones where I have ample time to go for a run or even build the 9th world wonder.  On these days, the thought "I should go for a run" constantly enters my mind and may indeed never actually come to fruition.





Phase 2: Changing into running clothes.
                   Most people may think that changing into running clothes might not ever be a long phase, but they would be wrong. I've changed running clothes multiple time over the course of hours before, and unfortunately, if you're having what I like to call a "bad body day" you can revert back to phase one pretty quickly.


Phase 3: Changing into running shoes.
                   Once you have successfully selected your running outfit, it's time for the running shoes. Getting the first one on is fairly simple, but then distractions come into play. All of a sudden, you've turned into an ADHD child and everything is more interesting than that second sneaker. 


Phase 4: Deciding to go for a run.
                  So! You've gotten past phases 1, 2, and 3. Deciding to go for a run should be the easiest phase yet! WRONG. I've spent hours sitting in my apartment, looking like I've got a 5k to get to, but in fact only have the intention of watching Hoarders or Intervention for the day. Deciding to actually leave and go for a run is the hardest phase. It also is the most pivotal. If you can't get past phase 4, you're doomed to be in "phase limbo" for the rest of the day. However, it's not a total loss, because, Hey, at least you're dressed. 


Phase 5: RUNNING!
                  Holy crap! You're in phase 5! And you know what? It's not that bad (except for the fact that you're running and looking like a drunk monkey)! Once you start running, you realize how silly you were for wasting seven hours of your day in preparation for a 20 minute run, but don't let that thought stick around for too long; that's phase 1 kind of talk, and we're phase 5ers now. In fact, now in phase 5 you are DETERMINED to minimize the time in phases 1-4 from now on! You're feeling powerful, awesome, energetic, and maybe even a little sassy!


Enter tomorrow morning, when there is a Boy Meets World marathon on TV, and you spend about 10 episodes stuck in phase 1. Oh well, At least you're IN phase 1. Better that than no phase at all.


Until Tomorrow,

J

The Run

Sorry for the late post! Even though I was done my exercise by 11 am, there was so much to do today that blogging got put on the back burner :)


Today I finally went on a run. 


It's interesting how different types of exercise comes easier to some than to others. I watch some people run and it look effortless; I have decided that those people are cyborgs. These will be the ones to watch out for when the machines take over.




I, unlike these cyborgs, do not have the gift of running gracefully. I imagine that when I run I'm pretty comparable with a drunk monkey, but that's okay.


Until Tomorrow,

J

Thanksgiving Day Sparkles

Today's spin class was not taught by either The Old Guy or Judy, but by a bleach blonde twenty-something I shall call Sparkles. 


I didn't think you could get more type-A than Judy, but apparently Sparkles can. I now ask you to imagine: Reese Witherspoon's character from legally blonde COMBINED with her chihuahua and given a healthy dose of crack. That's Sparkles.




Once we started class, I began to yearn for a torture session from Judy. 


I don't think Sparkles knows what she is doing. First of all, she was having us turn our resistance up SUPER high. and stay in the saddle. If you're still seated on a bike, you should be able to maintain at least 80 rpm, or you could really hurt your knees. If you're in high resistance, you get up out of the saddle. That's what  I ended up doing - because I'm not blowing my knees out unless Sparkles plans on paying for my surgery and PT. 


Instead of getting mad at Sparkles, however, I decided to think of all the wonderful things I want to eat today (and deserve to eat after this class). 


Rolls.
Turkey.
Rolls.
Broccoli Casserole.
Rolls.
Gravy.
Rolls.
Mashed potatoes.
Rolls.
Pumpkin Roll.
Rolls.


I hope this is my last ever encounter with Sparkles. But, I won't let her hyperactivity and ineptitude stop me from reaching my goal, so, Sparkles, the next time we meet: BRING.IT.ON.






Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! 


Until Tomorrow,

J

7 Down! 39 to go!

Weight: 253.4 

Charles and I had the pool entirely to ourselves today and it was quiet and peaceful - I couldn't have asked for a  better morning.

The first week is over! I have noticed that I sleep better, I feel less stressed, and I have more energy - even though I'm consistently getting up before 6 am almost every day. 

Sorry that this post isn't as long as it normally is - I have to get to work (I feel as though I am a small percentage of family and friends that does have to work today. Jerks!)

Thank you for reading this past week - tune in tomorrow for my Thanksgiving morning spin class!

Until Tomorrow,

J

Judy the Barbarian

Judy starts today's spin class with an announcement:

"Since it's the holidays, we're going to play a game today!"

My ears perk up: Oh goodie! A game! For once, Judy is going to go easy on us at 6 am. 

"This game is called Town Line. I have picked specific people to yell out 'town line!'. When they do, you sprint for 30 seconds. There are at least six sprints, but there are less than ten. After the sprint, there will be two minutes of recovery time and then we'll resume where we left off."

Uh, Judy, I think you're confused as to what a game is. Candyland is a game. This...is torture. 

And then it begins as a normal Judy spin class with the added bonus of being terrified of when the next person will yell out "TOWN LINE!". I found myself darting my eyes around trying to figure out the pattern of when the next person yells. Is it that Judy takes a swig from her water bottle? Checks her watch? Is it a certain amount of time in between each sprint? I was in survival mode. I was applying logic: We've had 3 sprints and it's been fifteen minutes. That's a sprint every five minutes. We usually spin with Judy for 50 minutes before we cool down, so the last sprint would be at quarter of. NINE. THERE WILL BE NINE SPRINTS. 

And so on, until I was on the brink of madness. Then, like a blink of an eye, we're cooling down. I'm incredulous: We can't have only had six sprints. Judy's going to yell "town line!" sometime during "Hey Jude"...and I will hate her for it.

But she didn't, and we were done! 

Well done, Judy. You figured out how to make spin class fly by: Psychological warfare.

Until Tomorrow,

J

Stitch 'n Bitch

This morning's spin class started off pretty normally, until I hear the clucking of hens in the back. I turn my head to the right and realize the entire back row of spin bikes is occupied by older women. Normally in The Old Guys class there are two women who bike and talk through class, but today word had gotten out. It was like something out of The First Wives Club - the entire 45 minutes they talk loudly (to be heard over Boston of course) and cackle, and I'm quite convinced they are plotting to kill their husbands. 

When the chatter gets to the point of obnoxious, part of me thinks I am going to look over there and see this:

I do find the ladies quite amusing though and I hope when I'm their age I have a bunch of broads I can go spin with too.

Until Tomorrow,

J

I LoVermont!

I really do. I think that Vermonters have a pretty distinct passion towards their home state, one I haven't ever seen matched. It's almost on par with the passion that Red Sox fans have for their team; we become douchebags over it. No matter how great any other state is, you will rarely find a Vermonter that does not have an immense amount of pride towards their home. And that's what Vermont is to a Vermonter: home; no matter how long it's been since you've been there.





Any way, I digress. 


Today, my mom and I took the dogs, Sadie and Scruffy for a walk up Alpine Dr., a fairly steep cul-de-sac that ends up being a 1.75 mile loop. Taking the dogs with us is always an event. Scruffy, 14, has legs so wobbly he can't even lift his leg to pee anymore so he ends up just walking and peeing at the same time. Sadie tends to try and poop every 50 yards or so even when she doesn't have anything left in her. Both try to eat everything they see, regardless of it is edible or not.


I don't want to go back to Concord, but the good thing is I'll be back in Vermont from Thursday - Sunday! :)


Until Tomorrow,

J

The Elliptical from Hell

After arriving at my parent's house in Vermont, I realized that there would not be enough daylight to do any exercise outside. Upon this realization, my heart sinks and I begin to break out in a cold sweat; my only option will be to use my parent's elliptical machine. 


My parent's elliptical machine is not a normal machine. First (and last) of all, my dad put it together (no offense, Dad). The display only stayed on for about three seconds, the fan didn't work, and I couldn't change the resistance. Now, after years of use, not only have those problems prevailed, but now it makes a noise similar to a locomotive...it's unnerving and very bad for my self-esteem.


I'm with this poor bastard. :)




Until Tomorrow,

J

The Old Guy

Happy Friday!

Today was my last spin class of the week, and I love Friday spin class with "The Old Guy". To help you envision what The Old Guy actually looks like, he reminds me of a bald Charles (add 45 years, keep the lanky) with gray tube socks pulled up over his calves. 





His demeanor is very mellow, and after hearing his choices of music, I'm 99% sure that mellowness comes from pot. Whether it be from his earlier Woodstock years or the night before, I'm not sure, but hey I'm not here to judge*


The Old Guy's musical tastes are also superb: Clapton, Pink Floyd, the Dead, Lynard Skynard, the Beatles. However, it's really hard to want to push yourself in a hill climb during a 7 minute Grateful Dead jam session. 


Tomorrow, I leave for VT after I get out of work, so I'm not sure what I'll be doing for my exercise. Maybe I'll join my mom for a walk/jog (she walks, I jog to keep up with her. The woman has gams for miles!)


Have a great weekend! Until tomorrow,


J




*If you believe this, you don't know me well; stop reading my blog.

The Singing Spinner

Today I was back in (and out of) the saddle in my Thursday spin class at the Y. 

My instructor on Tuesdays and Thursdays is a woman I choose to call Judy. I call her this not because I feel like keeping her anonymity, it's because I can't ever remember her name. Judy is clearly a type A personality; she wears her sponsor bike spandex to every class, runs marathons on the weekend, and barks at us to "feel our cadence!", whatever that means. 

I hate Judy. 

However, Judy's music choices are superb. Every class, we listen to some combination of Coldplay, Dave Matthews, Adele, and random oldies like the Eagle's 'Hotel California'. And through no fault of my own, I inadvertently sing (quietly) through each class. I probably look like I'm having some sort of seizure: bright red in the face, head bobbing around, lips flailing. 

Singing through class, though, seems to make the 7o minutes of spinning go by much faster.

Tomorrow, I have the instructor who I affectionately refer to as "The Old Guy".

Until Tomorrow,

J

PS. I put that picture of the monkey as a joke but as I look at it more, it freakishly reminds me of the image I see in the mirror after spin class.

One down!

Weight: 259.


Today I kicked off my mission with a dip in the YMCA pool. Here is my experience with swimming laps:


The first couple of laps are always fun, and I think to myself, "This is so much fun! It's like being on vacation; the water is warm, I'm in a bathing suit...yeppers! This sure is swell!" 


Enter 3rd and 4th and 5th lap, where I start to question my form compared to the other elderly swimmers in the lanes next to me who not only entered the pool after me, but are on their 50th laps and seem to be skimming on top of the water like those Jesus-lizards in the Amazon. 


6th, 7th, and 8th lap come with the realization that goggles are not meant for me to see under water, but keep the highly chlorinated water from being splashed in my eye by all the Jesus-lizards around me.


9th lap - 1/4 mile. WHAT?! How can I possibly be a faster runner than I am a swimmer?? 


The 10th through the 14th lap are more of a introspective time for me. I begin to think of all the fish in the ocean that are faster than me and the list becomes "Almost all of them". If I was stuck in the ocean, I'm pretty sure I'd have to hang out with the manatees and just float around eating kelp and watching out for boat propellers. 







Finally the 15th lap comes! Woohoo! I've done it! Next time I'm in the pool my goal will be to swim an extra three laps to get me to half a mile and maybe try to do that fancy flip that all the real swimmers do. The question is: will they judge me if I plug my nose while doing it?

Until tomorrow,

J

The plan

Welcome to my exercise blog!

This comes inspired by my friend, Abbie, who started doing 30 days of cardio and logging it on Facebook.

Now, while I don't really want everyone I know on 'the Book' to know what I am up to, I really wanted to challenge myself on a similar level. I thought that creating a blog would help hold me accountable!

Research shows that any habit can be formed in 21 days, so my goal is more than double that and make it to the New Year without missing a day of cardio: 46 days.


My reason for doing this is simple: to get into a healthier lifestyle where exercise is just another part of my day. My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age, and I should be taking better care of myself to do everything in my power to leave my fate purely up to genetics only. I also have diabetic maternal and paternal grandmothers - another fate I would like avoid. 

As another part of my motivation plan, and after much deliberation, I will put my weight on here as well. My goal is to get back down to 195 pounds - what I weighed after my freshman year of college. This will not happen by New Years, that's for sure, but my goal is to not end this blog at New Years, but make it so that "I will exercise more" does not become another faded resolution that is abandoned by February.

I hope you enjoy following me; It all starts tomorrow!